Outlet box



April 15 1924.

C. H. BISSELL OUTLET BOX Filed Jan 19. 1923 INVENTOR w M @mzz BY M7} d 1%,.) \x W AT! ORNEYS Patented Apr: l5, l924c warren rates CARL H. BISSELL, O'F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR ran TO anaemic corner co n- PANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK OUTLET BOX.

Application filed January 19, 1923. Serial No. 613,614..

To all whom it may GOILCGWL.

Be it known that I, CARL H. BISSELI lL citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Syracuse, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Outlet Boxes',;of.which the following is-aspeeification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. i

This invention relates generally to the iype of outlet box shown in the Vibber 'atent No. 932,196, in which clamping elements on the front and rear faces of a wall are secured together to afford a staple support for an outlet box. In employing this method of installation it is necessary to introduce the back clamping element through the opening cut in the wall and then subse quently unite the front clamping element with it through the securing devices. The present invention has for its principal object to associate with the back clamping member suitable means for retaining it in place until such time as the front clamping member is secured thereto. More particularly, the invention seeks to provide, as an improved article of manufacture, aback clamping member for the purpose described which shall have formed as an integral part thereof the means for retaining the member in position on the reverse face of the well until such time as the front clamping member is permanently secured thereto. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the back member carries one or more flexible tangs which may the wall alon the ed e of the openin The invention will e described wit reference to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the rear side of the improved clamping member.

Figure 2 is a view in. perspective of a portion thereof showing one of the flexible tangs.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the clamping element secured in an opening in a lath and plaster wall by the flexible tangs.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a portion of a front-"clamping member.

It will be understood that the improved clamping member a may be of any form I and dimensions but as illustrated herein is of generally rectangular form and including be bent over to engage not only the flanged section a to bear against the rear side of the laths but also an inner peripheral flange a of the same configuration as the opening. In installing a box such as b which is to be supported by clamping members such .as the back clamping member a and a front clamping member 0 it is desirable, after the opening-is cut in the Wall, to pass the back clamping member a through the opening and hold it in place until'the front clamping member 0 is secured thereto as through securing screws d pass ing through the front member 0 and taking into openings a provided therefor in the Hat flange a. When the back clamping member a is thus supported in the opening the wires may be fished and drawn out through the opening in the clamping memher. for introduction into the box 22 before the box is permanently mounted. The peripheral flange a of the clamping member a facilitates fishing of the wires since it forms a smooth facing for the opening pin the wall. Heretofore, no means have been proposed for securing the back clamping member in place and the expediency has been resorted to of holding it by means of one or more of the retaining screws d. This is somewhat inconvenient and such an expedient does not maintain the back clamping member in proper relation to the opening during fishing of the wires without special attention on the part of the workman. By the improved construction it is proposed to associate with the back clamping member a means by which it may be held in place until such time as the retaining screws 03 are finally passed between the front clamping member 0 and the back clamping flange a. Such means in the preferred form consist of flexible tangs a carried integrally with the peripheral flange a and disposed in any number and in an positionsfound to be necessary or most e fective. In the illustrated form two such tangs are shown as disposed at the top and bottom of the peripheralflange a and centrally thereof. When the back clamping is properly positioned the workman may bendithe tangs a* over the edge of the laths or otherwall material indicated at e and the tangs will embrace the wall material with suflicient positiveness to hold the back clamp a in position during the fishing of the wires and until such time as the front thereto by flange clamping member 0 is permanently secured the through screws d. If desirable, the front flange member a may have formed therein openings 0 alined with the tangs a, respectively, so as to receive them without interference.

, The invention is not limited to the precise character of the back clamping element nor the front clamping element so long as elements are provided which will co-operate for the support of an outlet box in accordance with the principle described by Vibber Patent No. 932,196. For thatreason, it is immaterial whether the front clamping 0 is carried with the box I) or whether the box is independent thereof. Further, the invention is not to be limited to the provision of integral tangs a on the back clamping member a although this appears to be the cheapest and most eiiective construction.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a back clamping plate for the purpose described having means for co-operation with the wall on which the plate is mounted for temporarily supporting the plate, said plate also having means ,for co-operation with permanent retaining devices.

2. As an article of manufacture a back clamping plate for the purpose described having formed integrally therewith adjacent the peripheral opening therein means for co-operation with the wall on which the plate is supported to support the plate temporarily.

3. A back clamping plate for the purpose described having formed integrally therewith flexible means for co-operation with the wall on which the plate is supported, to retain the plate temporarily in fixed relation to the wall.

In'combination, front and back clamping plates for the support of an outlet box, means for permanently uniting said clamping plates and independent means carried with the back plate to support it temporarily in fixed relation to the wall.

This'specification signed this 20th day of December A. D. 1922.

- CARL H. BISSELL. 

